Neurocomputing: An Introduction - High Dimensional Neurocomputing: Growth, Appraisal and Applications - page 3

deliver different paradigms for enhancing our artificial neuron models and aid in our
endeavor of bringing the ANN closer to the real functioning of the brain.
The functionalism in artificial neuron is analogous to the biological neuron for
machine learning. Neuron is the basic unit in biological neural network having uni-
cellular structures. A neuron comprises of five basic elements: synapse, dendrite,
dendron, axon, and cell body. The brain's nerve cells are known as neurons, which
transmit and gather electrochemical signals through synapse that are communicated
via a network of millions of nerve fibers called dendrites and axons. Till now, the
learning process of human beings through neurons is a mysterious prospect. How-
ever, the amount of neuro-transmitters released at pre-synaptic end of neurons and
its correspondence with learning process demonstrates the participation of neurons
in learning process. But exact performance of neurons and their network along with
their association with other computational techniques in learning task is an interest-
ing and open research problem in Neurocomputing. The selection of neurons in high
dimension is problem-specific, which greatly influences the system performance.
1.1.1 Brain Research Chronology
A survey into historical literature available brings out the fact that investigations in
the human brain started 6000 years ago when Sumerians (4000 B.C.) discovered the
euphoric effect of poppy seed. The first ever written document on Nervous System
called 'Edwin Smith surgical papyrus' emerged during 1700 B.C. Hippocrates (479-
360 B.C.) discussed epilepsy as a mental disorder and stated brain as the seat of
intelligence. In 280B.C., Erasistratos of Chios wrote on the divisions of the brain. The
institution for thementally ill was established in 1410A.D. inValencia, Spain. In 1536
A.D., Nicolo Massa described the Cerebrospinal Fluid. Andreas Vesalius dissected
the human body and published his findings in 'On the Workings of the Human Body'
in 1543 A.D. In 1561 A.D., Gabriele Fallippo published 'Observationes Anatomicae'
that described some cranial nerves. The term 'hippocampus' was coined in 1564
A.D. by Aranzi and the word 'pons' was coined in 1573 A.D. by Constanzo Varolio.
Varolio was the first to have cut the brain at the base and remove the organ from the
skull. The sections of the brain began to be studied but a start in this direction was
made by Piccolomini in 1586 A.D. when he distinguished the cortex from the white
matter. In 1611 A.D., Lazarus Riverius published a text describing impairments on
consciousness. In 1649 A.D., Rene Descartes described Pineal Body as the control
center of body and mind. In 1664 A.D., Thomas Willis published 'Cerebri Anatome',
in Latin and the English version of the same topic was published in 1681 A.D. In 1695
A.D., Humphrey Ridley published 'The Anatomy of the Brain'. The word 'reflex'
was coined in 1736 A.D. by Jean Astruc. In 1776 A.D., M.V.G. Malacarne published
the first topic solely devoted to cerebellum.
The respiratory center in medulla was discovered in 1811 A.D. The functional
differences between dorsal and ventral roots of the spinal cord was discussed by
Charles Bell in 1811 A.D. and by Francois Magendie in 1821 A.D. Jean-Marie-Pierre